MEW INDUSTRIAL ERA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19121, 16 September 1936, Page 12

MEW INDUSTRIAL ERA

FEW MINOR DISPUTES “BOUND TO OCCUR” VIEW OF MR. SAVAGE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Tn the House o! Representatives, Air. W. J. Brondfoot (Nat-., Waitomo) asked the Prime Minister, the lit-. Hon. M. J. Savage, if ho would advise tho House what steps lie proposed to take to eliminate stop-work meetings which were occurring in New Zealand while disputes were being negotiated between employers and employees. Would he say what constitutional means lor settling disputes would be, utilised in J'utul'e?

Mr. Savage said that the industrial legislation of the present, Government had cU'ectod radical changes in the relationship between workers and employers, and misunderstandings regarding interpretations were bound to occur during the period of transition. “Considering the multiplicity of occupations and industries affected, however,” continued Mr. Savage, “(he Government takes satisfaction in the fact that a, new era. lias been entered upon with only a. Jew .minor disputes, and with no .serious dislocation of industry. The, amendments made to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act,, and to tbe Factories Act, have provided machinery for ilie more rapid settlement ot disputes by constitutional means than previously existed.

“ I lie Government is watching the position closely, and if after making due allowance for the exceptional circumstances which prevail during the present period of readjustment, it appears that still further legislation is necessary to encourage settlements by constitutional means, consideration will be given to the stons necessary to achieve these.”